What are the Early Symptoms of Arthritis?
Arthritis is a term that is usually used to mean any disorder that causes pain and inflammation in the joints. Over 100 types of arthritis exist, making it a commonly misunderstood disease. Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States.
Many people think that they have arthritis, but most of them never discuss their concerns with their doctors. If you suspect that you have arthritis, it is important you take appropriate steps to protect your joints from unrelenting pain and permanent damage. Early diagnosis and treatment can help you save more than your joints since some types of arthritis can damage your heart and other body organs from the start. Most types of arthritis tend to begin slowly with minor symptoms, which vary from person to person.
Joint Redness
Redness of the skin surrounding a joint can often be accompanied by other symptoms such as limited range of motion, warmth, and swelling of the joints. This particular symptom is common in active arthritis like rheumatoid arthritis, and it can develop as a result of injury to the joint or the surrounding tissues. This condition, depending upon the exact cause, can occur in multiple joints or a single joint. Many different things can cause of arthritis, and all of them cause joint redness.
Fatigue
In the early stages, you may feel abnormally fatigued. This often precedes the onset of other severe symptoms by a few weeks or months. Fatigue is often accompanied by a general feeling of ill health or depression.
Morning Stiffness
Morning stiffness is another early symptom of different types of arthritis. If this condition lasts for a few minutes, then that is an indication of a degenerative form of arthritis. Stiffness that lasts for many hours is a symptom of inflammatory arthritis. Apart from in the morning, you may also experience this symptom after any given period of prolonged inactivity such as sitting or napping.
Cracking or Popping Sounds
As you walk, you can feel a grinding sensation on your knees. You might also hear cracking sounds coming from your knees. When you notice these symptoms, it may mean you have lost some of the smooth cartilage that assists with the smooth range of motion. Rough surfaces and bones spurs rubbing against each other might cause the noises.
Decreased Range of Motion
Inflammation in the joints can also cause your ligaments and tendons to become unstable or deformed. This can lead to the reduction in your range of motion. And as the disease progresses, you might experience difficulty bending or straightening some of your joints. Although pain can also affect your range of motion negatively, it is necessary to engage in regular, gentle exercises.
Minor Swelling and Tenderness
Mild swelling of the joints is typical early on. Inflammation can cause your joints to feel warm to the touch and appear bigger than normal. This symptom lasts for a few days to a few weeks. You can also experience tenderness when the affected areas are touched. This happens because the inflammation of tendon puts a lot of pressure on your nerves.
What Should You Do About these Symptoms?
There are many things that you can do to preserve the health of your joints and possibly prevent arthritis and related conditions. Arthritis is a commonly misunderstood disease but with severe consequences, and so you do not need to take chances with these symptoms. Knowing early symptoms of arthritis and creating time for physical activity are essential for its prevention and early treatment. If you have any of these early symptoms, the best place to start is an experienced, well-trained doctor.
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